* Lisboa, November 13, 2025 —
“There will probably be a strike, a legitimate right of the confederations. The important thing is that even after the strike, social dialogue is not interrupted, and negotiation continues,” he stated.
Luís Marques Mendes was speaking to journalists after a visit to the Dona Ajuda social store in Lisbon.
The former PSD leader directly appealed to the Government and UGT, stating, “with or without a strike, probably with a strike, do not cut social dialogue and do not stop returning to the negotiation table after the strike.”
“A change in labor law with an agreement is always better than without one. And so, one should never, never give up on social dialogue. I am a great enthusiast of social dialogue and, therefore, even before becoming President of the Republic, I make this appeal because a constructive sense should prevail on this occasion,” he emphasized.
The presidential candidate urged both the executive and the trade union center not to be inflexible and to continue negotiations, highlighting that “nothing is resolved with intransigence, everything is resolved with dialogue.”
“I have seen many moments in the past when strikes occurred, and afterwards, negotiations resumed and even led to agreements, which is positive. I am an optimist and believe that in the end, everything will conclude with an agreement,” he said.
Marques Mendes highlighted “the importance of a social agreement” when changes to labor law are at stake, considering it “important for preserving social peace in the country” and “important for maintaining tranquility within companies,” as well as being “a good signal for the country, a signal of maturity.”
The presidential candidate also expressed his belief that “this issue will reach the mandate of the next President of the Republic, it will not be resolved before.”
He stated that “the fundamental mission of a President of the Republic is to help practice social dialogue” and “ensure stability,” adding that this will be one of his priorities if elected on January 18.
“Stability is important for governments to deliver results, important for people to have a peaceful life without constant elections, and for companies to have predictability,” he noted.
On the occasion, the presidential candidate praised the work of the association he visited and the social store, which he described as “public service,” and proposed that this type of project be replicated elsewhere in the country.
“Here, upstream and downstream, there is solidarity and generosity,” he stated, emphasizing that “there are already many beneficiaries.”
